I think ouzo is best served with after dinner coffee. Serve a Rodities both with the meal and before....I am not a big fan of retsina....and really don't like it witn my meal.
I would leave the hummus and pitas on the table if theya re not gone. And I would leave the tzatziki..
I really think tzatziki is best with beef or lamb but I guess it's good with dolmas too. And I think I would include some veggies with the main course, sliced tomatoes, baked eggplant even a green salad...but my mind is picturing white shrimp and scallops, tan tablouli and white tzatziki and think you need some color.
I love pistachio ice cream with baklava....and ouzo with my coffee!
Linda C

I hear ya about the food colors. I figured if I put lots of parsley and tomatoes in the bulghur, that'd be enough. I could garnish with small tomatoes. There will be parsley and lemon wedges garnishing the plate of skewers, too. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Put the tabouleh on a bed of lettuce, put a couple of tomato slices on the side...instant color!
Do I still get ouzo with my coffee? Going out to dinner....wonder if they will have ouzo?
Did I mention I love ouzo? LOL!
Linda C

Thanks Linda. Yes, definitely ouzo with the coffee. Appreciate the beverage recommendations.

I make this dinner all the time for company, it is one of my all time favorite meals, although I don't get the alcohol. I think you just keep adding food as the meal progresses. One thing I have done for dessert is serve ice cream or frozen yogurt in a half canteloupe. You could do that with any of your ice cream/sherbet options. It's very refreshing.

I often put peppers and/or tomatoes in my tabouleh. You can also make chopped salad as a side, which is basically anything fresh and crunchy you have on hand, chopped into bite sized pieces and marinated in a lemon juice or wine vinegar and olive oil marinade. Add fresh herbs like dill or oregano if you have them.

In our family, when I was a kid, ouzo came first. And second. And third...well, you get the drift. But it was always offered with appetizers, and throughout dinner.

Yogurt with dolma was the usual, but for us, tzatziki (or ghaghik for us Armenians) was more of a side dish during dinner.

I would definitely leave the hummus and bread out there until it's gone!

Lucy

Or there's classic Greek salad, with chopped tomatoes, cucumbers,onions, kalamata olives, feta cubes and lemon, oil and oregano dressing....

I realize this is late but the Greeks and other Middle Easterners have ouzo as an aperitif as soon as you walk in the door. Some of them keep going all through the meal and some switch to wine. They add water until after dinner!